Page 38 of Fixed Asset

“I’ll make sure to tell Wilson you think he’s a good-looking old man. He’ll love that.”

“You do that.” She beamed a megawatt smile at me. “But then there’s this other guy in the room . . . Now, he’s the hottest man she’s ever seen. Full-on pantie-drenching hot, and he’s funny to boot. She takes one look at this man and she knows, down to the pit of her stomach, he could go toe-to-toe with her. Not only could he handle her attitude, but he’d love it. He’d be bossy and arrogant in all the right ways. And right then and there, she knew she’d never met the man who was perfect for her because she’d never met that man lounging back in a chair like he was the king of her world. And she fell in love. Then it took this man a long time to get his head out of his ass and figure out she was what he’d been waiting for his whole life.”

Jesus fuck. My heart was ready to jump out my chest.

“Are you done?”

“No.”

“Finish,” I growled.

“The end.”

My fist in her hair tightened. I gently pulled her head farther back so I could fully take in her pretty face.

“Yeah, baby, the end.”

My lips hit hers. Story time never tasted so good.

Chapter Eleven

“Hey, Cat, wait up.”

I stopped at Pete’s callout and turned. He was jogging out of the house.

Two black vans had shown up a little bit ago. Berta wasted no time getting the women and children ready to be loaded in. We’d be ready to roll out any minute now. Pete, Mason, and Jack were going to the hospital to grab Maria and her three daughters. Fallon was coming with me to the port to guard the women and wait for the others.

“Everything okay?” I asked when he stopped in front of me.

“Just wanted to say thanks.”

“For what?”

Pete tipped his head and took me in like this was the first time he’d ever laid eyes on me.

“I was out cold. You saved my life.”

My eyes automatically went to his forehead. The guy had a big knot left of center. I was pretty sure he had a concussion, but Pete, being of the male variety, swore he was fine. I didn’t say a word, seeing as I would’ve said the same after being knocked out on a mission while more work was to be done.

“Any of—”

“Wasn’t anyone, it was you. So accept my gratitude, so we can move on.”

“Right. You’re welcome. But don’t make a habit of thanking me for doing what teammates do. We have each other’s back.”

“Is that what we are, Catarina? Teammates?”

Damn, that was a slip.

“We are on this op.”

He continued to stare at me. His gaze was so perceptive, I fought the urge to confess all of my past transgressions before he saw them for himself.

He was a saint, after all.

“Is your nickname because of Saint Peter?” I thought for a moment. “Isn’t he the patron saint who holds the keys to heaven?”

“Yup.”